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Biomimetic and bioactive nanofibrous scaffolds from electrospun composite nanofibers

Authors YZ Zhang, B Su, J Venugopal, S Ramakrishna, CT Lim

Published 15 January 2008 Volume 2007:2(4) Pages 623—638



YZ Zhang1, B Su1, J Venugopal2,3, S Ramakrishna2,3,4, CT Lim2,3,4

1Department of Oral and Dental Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; 2NUSNNI, National University of Singapore, Singapore; 3Division of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; 4Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Abstract: Electrospinning is an enabling technology that can architecturally (in terms of geometry, morphology or topography) and biochemically fabricate engineered cellular scaffolds that mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM). This is especially important and forms one of the essential paradigms in the area of tissue engineering. While biomimesis of the physical dimensions of native ECM’s major constituents (eg, collagen) is no longer a fabrication-related challenge in tissue engineering research, conveying bioactivity to electrospun nanofibrous structures will determine the efficiency of utilizing electrospun nanofibers for regenerating biologically functional tissues. This can certainly be achieved through developing composite nanofibers. This article gives a brief overview on the current development and application status of employing electrospun composite nanofibers for constructing biomimetic and bioactive tissue scaffolds. Considering that composites consist of at least two material components and phases, this review details three different configurations of nanofibrous composite structures by using hybridizing basic binary material systems as example. These are components blended composite nanofiber, core-shell structured composite nanofiber, and nanofibrous mingled structure.

Keywords: electrospinning, composites, nanofiber, tissue scaffolds, biomimetic, bioactive